Aspies For Freedom

Autistic boy rescued from train tracks

Monterey Herald
Friday 2nd December 2005

Fullerton - SoCal

A policeman who spotted a 13-year-old autistic boy walking on railroad tracks scaled a barbed-wire-topped fence as a freight train approached and pulled the youngster to safety.

The teenager, wearing his mother's fuzzy slippers, was walking down the middle of the tracks with his head down when Officer Jay Cicinelli rescued him Tuesday evening.

"We didn't know how much time we had. We just knew we needed to get him off those tracks," Cicinelli said.

Louie Perales, whose autism prevents him from communicating, had wandered away from a Fullerton home and police were notified.

The boy was spotted on the tracks hours later.

"I yelled toward him but didn't want to scare him away, so I was trying to be reassuring and get him to come toward me," Cicinelli said. There was a 6-foot fence topped with barbed wire between them and the officer decided to scale the fence.

He then guided the boy to safety.

"I don't think he had any idea he was in danger," said his mother, Teresa Perales of Garden Grove. "When I ran to him, he just looked at me like, 'Mom, where have you been?'"

Source: Monterey Herald
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/monter...310273.htm

I think the police officer should receive a medal.  

He did not tazer the child either.

I dont see why they should get a medal for NOT being abusive.

If he could get a medal for being brave and saving the child, yes.  

If that was his job and he was just expected to do that, no or maybe.

No, I don't think he should get a medal just for not being abusive:  using a tazer or force.   I was just contrasting this story with the one about the teenager who was tazered at school.